By Tiffany Williams –
PITTSBURGH — A routine effort to serve a warrant on a suspect wanted on gun charges exploded into a dangerous confrontation on Pittsburgh’s Upper Hill when multiple shots were fired at law enforcement officers and federal agents, authorities said.
The gunfire erupted just before 11 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Clarissa Street as Pittsburgh Bureau of Police detectives and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents worked together to locate a suspect wanted on firearms-related charges.
According to Pittsburgh Police Chief Jason Lando, officers and agents were attempting to execute a warrant when the situation suddenly turned violent.
Lando said multiple gunshots were fired at an ATF agent’s vehicle while law enforcement personnel were actively searching for the suspect. Despite the gunfire, no police officers or federal agents were injured.
Investigators quickly launched a search for the person believed to be responsible.
Police sources confirmed investigators believe 19-year-old Daniel Lightfoot-Gaines fired the shots before fleeing the area. The search continued into Thursday morning when law enforcement tracked him to Homewood and took him into custody.
The shooting investigation unfolded against the backdrop of an existing warrant tied to an earlier firearms case.
According to an affidavit, Lightfoot-Gaines was searched by police in July 2025 and found to have a Glock on him. Although he was not arrested at that time, a warrant was issued in February 2026 charging him with carrying a firearm without a license stemming from that incident.
Authorities said officers were attempting to execute that warrant Wednesday night when the shots were fired.
Following his arrest, Lightfoot-Gaines was transported to Pittsburgh police headquarters Thursday afternoon for questioning. Because the alleged target of the gunfire was a federal agent, the investigation is now being handled by the FBI.
Federal authorities have not publicly identified a suspect in the shooting investigation but confirmed that a suspect of interest has been taken into custody.
Police recovered one firearm at the scene. Lando said investigators believe the weapon was a handgun.
On Friday morning, Lightfoot-Gaines was arraigned on charges connected to the 2025 firearms incident and was ordered held without bond. A preliminary hearing in that case is scheduled for June 10.
Meanwhile, investigators continue working to determine exactly what happened during the late-night confrontation that sent officers, federal agents and residents scrambling for cover in a Pittsburgh neighborhood that suddenly became the scene of a major law enforcement operation.